A new full-scale pickleball athletic club, St. Pete Athletic, is coming to downtown St. Petersburg.

The 1.6-acre athletic campus will be situated near the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, just north of the EDGE District.

The facility will feature 16 professional pickleball courts (including 9 indoor courts, a first for Tampa Bay), a full-service restaurant and bar, and a range of amenities including lockers, showers, a pro shop, gym equipment, and outdoor space with lounge seating, TVs, cornhole, Spikeball, and more.

Additionally, St. Pete Athletic will offer areas dedicated to table tennis and padel, a Mexican racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court slightly smaller than a doubles tennis court.

The club is being brought to life and backed by a talented and experienced team of local entrepreneurs, investors, and pickleball players who struck a deal with Jonathan Daou, a local real estate investor, to utilize his land for St Pete Athletic.

Reuben Pressman, former founder and CEO of Presence and former Entrepreneur in Residence for the City of Saint Petersburg, will be the Managing Operator; and Travis Rettenmaier, the #12 pickleball pro in the world and co-owner of the MLP Florida Smash, will be the Resident Pro. Jarrett Sabatini, founder of Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, will be involved with the food & beverage component.

“St. Pete loves these local businesses that combine fun activities with delicious drinks and food,” said Sabatini in an interview with St. Pete Rising. “We have a handful of bars in St. Pete that offer arcade games, mini golf, and even axe throwing. Locals are seeking more experiential concepts in hospitality.”

Currently, there are few pickleball courts in St. Petersburg and no location with more than six courts. These existing courts are isolated in city parks and often lack amenities such as restrooms and lighting, making it difficult for new players and families to participate in the sport.

St. Pete Athletic will change that by providing a centralized hub for the local pickleball community. The club will host events, tournaments for recreational to professional, classes for all ages including kid’s programs, access to professional players, and opportunities for birthdays and corporate parties.

“It’s really difficult for new players to get on the existing courts in St. Pete because there is so much demand coming from more frequent players,” said Pressman. “St. Pete Athletic will give an opportunity for new players to try the sport.”

St. Pete Athletic will offer all-access memberships, as well as hourly and daily public access for both residents and visiting players.

In addition to priority reservations on the courts, membership will also likely include other perks, such as the ability to bring a guest at no extra charge and a discount at the restaurant and bar.

Membership pricing hasn't been decided yet, but Pressman says "the goal is to keep it accessible and affordable across the board. We're trying to make it where if you're going to play consistently, call it twice a week, it's going to be worth it to just get a membership."

The club is being established in response to the recent nationwide growth of pickleball, which got its start in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

It first started to take off among boomers. Then during COVID-19, the sport saw an unexpected surge from people looking for a socially distant opportunity to be outdoors and stay active. The recent explosion in popularity can also be traced to its ease of play, the low cost of entry, and sociability.

More than 36.5 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a report by the Association of Pickleball Professionals.

In addition to the athletic club, a proposed boutique hotel is also being contemplated on the property, allowing tournament players and visitors to stay and play in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg.

"We are thrilled to bring this much-needed facility to downtown St. Petersburg," said Pressman. "Our goal is to create a community hub for pickleball players of all ages and abilities, and to bring the sport to a wider audience through tournaments, classes, and social events."

St. Pete Athletic is expected to open its doors later this year. Learn more at stpeteathletic.com.